Torched

Latest Episodes:

Bidding, Hosting & Corruption: Part II Apr 19, 2022

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From the LA riots to the Tlatelolco Massacre to Beijing 2022, governments have used the Olympics to paper over social problems, suppress dissent and force their agency on citizens. The price that their hosts pay for the honor can be staggering, if not horrifying. In part II of this series on host cities, we look at how we can do better, as well as how the Olympics might adapt for the future. Hosted by Molly Bloom. Produced by FilmNation Entertainment in association with Gilded Audio.

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Bidding, Hosting & Corruption: Part I Apr 12, 2022

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Are we headed toward a future where nobody wants to host the Olympics? Over the next two episodes, we’ll look at the Olympic stage itself. Hosting the Olympics was, and still is, considered a major honor. But the Olympics are dealing with a reckoning – one where politics, the climate, and human rights concerns are making hosting the games more and more undesirable. In the face of all this, how can we keep the Olympic torch burning for decades to come? Hosted by Molly Bloom. Produced by FilmNation Entertainment in association with Gilded Audio.

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The Stigma Against Mental Health Apr 05, 2022

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While elite athletes train themselves to push their bodies toward extremes, they’re also pushing their minds to sometimes unhealthy – and even dangerous – extremes, as well. That's something wrestler Helen Maroulis found out the hard way when she was diagnosed with PTSD. Now she and Olympians like Simone Biles and Michael Phelps are changing the conversation surrounding mental health. Hosted by Molly Bloom. Produced by FilmNation Entertainment in association with Gilded Audio.

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The Gay Games Lawsuit Mar 29, 2022

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An episode about a different Olympics. This is a story about a community that organized its own Games, against the odds and in spite of a serious legal threat from the U.S. Olympic Committee. Hosted by Molly Bloom. Produced by FilmNation Entertainment in association with Gilded Audio.

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Boris Cheats at Fencing Mar 22, 2022

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The story of a swashbuckling scandal that unfolds like a John Le Carre spy novel: the curious case of fencer Boris Onischenko. For some athletes, are the stakes of winning so high they will they go to greater, more nefarious lengths to win? Hosted by Molly Bloom. Produced by FilmNation Entertainment in association with Gilded Audio.

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The Dangers of Sledding Mar 15, 2022

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Most people like a good shot of adrenaline now and then. Roller coasters, bungee jumping... poker games... And bobsledders take that hair-raising tendency to the extreme. But is it possible to be safe and satiate this ingrained drive for adrenaline, competition, and speed? Hosted by Molly Bloom. Produced by FilmNation Entertainment in association with Gilded Audio.

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Greg Louganis' Infamous Dive Mar 08, 2022

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It was the bump heard round the world. The best diver ever - Greg Louganis - hit his head on the diving board in 1988 in Seoul, and splashed awkwardly into the pool. He still won the competition, but that imperfect dive led to years of fear and shame. Because Greg had a huge secret that the world didn't know. Hosted by Molly Bloom. Produced by FilmNation Entertainment in association with Gilded Audio.

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The Right to Olympic Protest Mar 01, 2022

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It's an iconic image from the '68 Mexico City games: Tommie Smith and John Carlos bow their heads and raise their firsts on the podium. Though the pair endures as symbols of dissent, the meaning of their salute has evolved, and its legacy is complicated. Their act both paved the way for athlete protests but also led to the most consequential act against Olympic protests. But in 2022, will Rule 50 finally face its moment of reckoning? Hosted by Molly Bloom. Produced by FilmNation Entertainment in association with Gilded Audio.

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Salt Lake's Disaster on Ice Feb 22, 2022

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In 2002, it was the biggest judging scandal to ever rock the sport of figure skating. What followed was a media frenzy — a week of rumors, lies, confessions, and retractions, all of it leading to an overhaul of the sport and the uncovering of a conspiracy that would involve the most powerful officials in figure skating, the FBI, and even. . . the Russian mafia. Hosted by Molly Bloom. Produced by FilmNation Entertainment in association with Gilded Audio.

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The Great Badminton Scandal Feb 15, 2022

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One of the most bizarre Olympic moments in recent memory was when a group of Olympians decided that it was worth it to actually lose… in an attempt to win gold. At the 2012 London Games, badminton had its moment. In fact, it was about to become the biggest story of the Summer Olympics. But for all the wrong reasons. Hosted by Molly Bloom. Produced by FilmNation Entertainment in association with Gilded Audio.

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